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Kandahar, Mexico

Kandahar Beach is located at Playa Majahua of the State of Guerrero (Acalpulco, Ixtapa) on the Pacific Coast. Longboarders and shortboarders alike can test their skills with lots of great waves all year round with a full variety of breaks and swells coming in from every direction.

With a central location surrounded by great surf spots, all are within walking distance from Trocones Point, Trocones Beach, La Saladita, Manzanillo Beach and La Boca. The well known Ranch is the hard to find spot that you will need surf guides to take you out to on a boat ride that takes about a ½ hour to surf those hard fast lefts and rights off reef point breaks that are so elusive to get to, but well worth the ride.

Beginners or pros, novice or expert, the area around Kandahar is known for its world-class surfing and has set the Gold Standard for over 40 years producing consistent mostly left point breaks, right point breaks, reef breaks, beach breaks and rivermouth breaks that challenge a fun time for all levels of surfers.

Two–thirds of Mexico’s Pacific Coastline has some of the best waves you’ll ever ride and can also be very crowded at times, but rest assured that along its sprawling beaches you can always find a private area to surf for a lot more room to ride.

The summer season is from April- October bringing southerly swells with air temperatures of 80-90 degrees plus, and winter months are October-April with northwest swells and temperatures hovering at 75-85 degrees. May and June arrives with the usually the best swell conditions that can reach up to 15 feet high.

Based on the quality, accessibility, and frequency of the waves accompanied by warm tropical year round weather Kandahar has shot to the top of the list.

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Visit the Hot Surfing Spots

Kandahar is any surfer’s paradise, with this line up of rolling breaks one after the other you can see why.

• Trocones Point – Reef Breaks: challenging left break over reef.
• Trocones Beach – Beach Break: Lightning fast waves to get barreled in.
• La Saladita – Reef Breaks: Fantastic longboard conditions. La Saladita is well known as The Wave Machine, never-ending lefts.
• Manzanillo Beach – Beach and Reef Breaks: Big barells, hollow beach break rights, and pounding left reef breaks with steep drops.
• La Boca – Rivermouth Breaks: Fast, wild and furious waves at the Boca. In the winter months during November-March you’ll find super powerful lefts and rights waiting for you.
• The Ranch – Reef Break: An exciting day out on a ½ boat ride to capture these hard fast lefts and rights, get ready for some real fun out here. Surf guides are available to navigate you to this hard to find spot.

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Get Home Safe

Millions of people travel to the white sand beaches, blue waters, and amazing foods in Mexico each year and the vacations there are relatively inexpensive, although visitors must be on notice of the crime, robberies and hijackings that also frequently do occur.

Always avoid taking taxi cab rides. Travel in groups if possible at all times. Many reports have come in explaining the mugging rouse. You jump in a cab and it starts off taking you into the ride, then the car stops at a sign or specific corner where accomplices can be met with armed with knives or guns that are in wait to hijack the cab. They want your ATM cards, pin #’s, jewelry, cash or any other valuables you have and are ruthless when getting it. Be careful even on the beaches and stay together.

Some neighborhoods are bad and very poorly lit yet surveys will show most visitors know nothing about the crime areas in Mexico which leaves them defenseless while there. Certain places at certain times can be quite dangerous. This group of bad seeds will usually operate in teams like a group of bandits. Never stop the car on stretches of rural roads, it is not uncommon to be jumped in these desolate areas and robbed. When traveling south of the border,

Highway 15 and Express Highway 1 are particularly dangerous day or night. Police corruption (heavily armed police) is ramped here so you never really know what side of the law they are on. Mexicans also know to be leery of men in uniform. Stay close by to your intended destination in Mexico.

Be advised when in nightclubs or bars to be careful when ordering drinks that can be slipped with something. Avoid luxury group buses even from the airports that offer to drive you to your hotel. Many tourists feel this transportation is safe but know that they are often targets for frequent robberies also. Rent a car right at the airport just to be safe and why take a chance, although driving at night is strongly still discouraged.

The massive crime waves are the result of the severe economic crisis that has plagued Mexico for many years.

Mexico remains in the top five traveled destinations. Most people travel to areas that are that have been deemed relatively safe providing you stay close within that complex, at best you should always be mindful and keep your guard up whenever you travel. Veering off can be extremely dangerous and never walk alone day or night.

Any time you travel anywhere you should collect as much information as possible on your own about the area you are traveling to. Don’t expect a travel agent to inform you and expose or even be aware of all the dangers. Agents are still in the business of booking as much volume as they can when it concerns traveling and trip destinations and in almost every case will assume no liability for your loss. Do your own individual research anytime you travel to be well informed of the area and its surroundings that you will be planning your trip to.

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Hazards & Health

Since Mexico has been under economic distress for many years I think we have all heard a story or two about someone who went to Mexico and had an illness knock them off their feet with a severe stomach virus from somehow drinking a few drips of the wrong water.

The water in Mexico should be avoided at all times unless you are assured the spot you are at has a purifying water system functioning to provide clear fresh filtered drinking water. This includes the ice-cubes and making sure their cooking facilities are using a purified water filtration system in that establishment that is preparing the meals you will be eating. Of course the good news is that mostly all of the resorts, hotels and popular little eateries have had this installed.

I personally have never had that problem there but I hear taking a few hundred bee stings would probably feel better, so be careful.

Over the last few years several Mexican health clinics have been closed depending on the services they render with or without restrictions prompting officials to replace health inspectors.

Be sure to check with the health department prior to leaving on your trip in case of an emergency so you can find where the nearest state approved hospital or health facility is located closest to where you will be staying.

Oh, did we forget to mention sharks enjoy the warm water here too,
no worry – they’re just around.

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Airports

Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo International Airport is the closest major airport only a 35-45 minute car ride to Kandahar Beach. All major car rental agencies of course can be conveniently found at the airport, which is highly recommended so you can enjoy your stay.

Some destinations have a limited supply of rental vehicles so it’s always a good idea to call ahead and reserve a car in advance and lock in their best rates.

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Stop By and See

Murals in Mexican tradition are quite often beautiful works of art seen around the towns solidly walled on backyard fences, corner markets, buildings, garage doors and alley ways displaying sometimes block long open-air halls of murals. The provocative art is vulnerable in its un-precious surroundings often faded from the exposure to the outside elements.

The painters do not see it as graffiti but more so embrace the communal spirit that bring the group efforts together to canvas these various areas that express their culture and views.

If censored, opposed to, or offensive it will usually just simply be covered up with wooden plywood to conceal it.

In Kandahar the main activity is surfing, surfing, and more surfing,
after all you are in a world class spot.

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Aside from taking in the breathtaking sunsets and gorgeous views >> →
there is not much to sight-see nearby except for a lot of primo surfing, fishing, horseback riding, and beautiful white sand tropical beaches that keep the pros coming back year after year.

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Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo –
(called the Twin Cities)
One of the most beautiful beaches you will find. It’s about 150 miles northwest of Acapulco. It’s modern tourist resorts with quality hotels, restaurants, shops and a marina with over 600 slips.

Here there are smaller waves but the activities are great for windsurfing, scuba diving, fishing and you can catch the Zihuatanejo Annual Sailfish (which are abundant in these waters) Tournament in May.

Conservation programs are everywhere and you can participate in saving the endangered species such as the Olive Ridley Sea Turtle and Hawksbill Turtles.

Ecotourism outings will take you to fascinating places where you can observe and spy on some wildlife such as crocodiles and eagles, simply put just magnificent.

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Good Eats, Restaurants & Pubs

Since Kandahar is not in the major city tourist attraction areas this section is sparse for actual listings. Rest assured wherever the eats are in Kandahar you’re in for some great authentic Mexican food cuisine. Although more informal and unspoiled than the major tourist areas there are several good spots to eat in Kandahar with attached bars and hospitable friendly service for a relaxing and enjoyable visit.

In Ixtapa City, approximately only a 40 minute car-ride away from Kandahar there you will find many authentic Mexican restaurants to sample and choose from. If you make the short trip it can be a fun day and night loaded with dining and dancing, shopping, local sight-seeing and you can tag on to the fascinating wildlife exploration adventures while you are there for some real eye-opening jaw dropping sights to see.

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Surf Shops ~ so what’s nearby?

Catcha L’Ola Surf Shop -
Before you leave the airport area in Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo make sure to stop and pick up anything you need at Catcha L’Ola Surf Shop – surfboard rentals, leashes, wax, rash guards, repair, wetsuits and stop in at the outdoor patio bar. Locals and visitors alike meet up here daily to not only have a good time but to mull over each other’s morning surf sessions and techniques over a few beers.
Ixtapa, Mexico
Centro Comercial Kiosco
Local #12
Ixtapa, Gro. Mexico
(011) 52 (755) 553-1384
http://www.ixtapasurf.com/

Local shapers are found around any surfing town for a quick fix so just ask around when you get there.

If you do travel to the major tourist areas you’ll find plenty of surf shop shopping almost anywhere you go in Mexico. Surf shops found in lower traffic areas may not maintain directory listings or surf shop websites.

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Surf Schools

The surf business directory does not show much on surf schools in Kandahar but Leon’s local Catcha L’Ola’s Surf Shop offers daily surfing lessons and custom surf trips, just give him a call or stop in down at the shop when you get there.

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Where to Stay

Playa Kandahar Resort – Central to all these supreme surf spots in Majahua Beach sits eight bungalows on 12.5 acres of land and 500 feet of beachfront property all within short distance to by car, boat or foot. Playa Kandahar was founded by two surfers in the late 1990’s who originally were on a visit and noticed the open beachfront space available that is now well known (but not overly crowded) for its all level, mostly all year round consistent and challenging surf.

Equipped with a restaurant and a bar you won’t have to go far to reach some of these world-class gold standard surfing beaches and here are some hot spots you can stroll to….

Troncones Point: 30 minute walk, 10 min. by car.

Troncones Beach: 45 minute walk, 15 min. by car.

La Saladita: 1 hour walk, ½ hour by car, 15 minute boat ride.

Manzanillo: 20 minute walk, just a few minutes by car.

The (La) Boca: 20 minute walk and a jump by car.

The Ranch: ½ hour by boat only (a surf guide to take you is recommended to find.)

Only a 30-40 minute car ride to Playa Kandahar Beach Resort from the Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo International airport. You can pick up a connection flight out of Los Angeles, California or Phoenix, Arizona straight to Zihuatanejo Airport. In our present economy flight scheduling and connections are constantly changing and may vary.

For reservations contact: reservations@playa-kandahar.com

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Off the Beaten Path in Kandahar….

For more information in and around the area check out one of the best tour guides; Zihuatanejo Ixtapa local info and events Troncones Guerrero.

Worth looking into are several homes, bungalows and villas that are made available and offered as rentals for several months out of the year. Just a short drive or walk to all the beautiful surrounding beaches noted for their supreme surfing conditions mostly all year round.

For the most current up to the minute availability for seasonal rentals just go to our Surfspots-GPS Housing Maps and search in the local areas you are looking to stay in.

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Nightlife after Dark

Most of the hot clubs and bars are in the twin town of Ixtapa which is a 35-40 minute car ride from Kandahar Beach. A few of our suggestions from the Insider Reports tell us about a few we want to share.

Senor Frog’s –
Located in the La Puerta Center, Bulevar Ixtapa, Ixtapa City this restaurant with several dining areas and bar stays open to 3:00am. Friday night cover is $10 USD. Raised dance floors rock all night long here with Latin music.
755/533-2282

Carlos ‘n’ Charlie’s –
Located in Bulevar, Ixtapa and is just north of the Best Western Posada Real, Ixtapa City. Carlos and Charlie’s restaurant is known for some real good food and brimming with décor nostalgia from the Mexican Revolution. The nightclub plays mostly rock music with raised wooden dance floors and a warm and friendly ambiance.
755/533-0085

Christine –
A trendy street side dance club known as a flashy spot in town which is located in the NH krystal Bulevar, Ixtapa. Equipped with a mega sound system playing classical everything overlooking a non-stop dance floor. Cover is $20.00 USD with no sneakers, flip flops or shorts allowed and is open Wednesday through Saturday.
755/533-0333

Socorro Island Mexico adult angelfish. Unique to this part of the world

*Always call ahead to confirm any seasonal time changes for business hours of operation.

The information links we provide to you may change periodically.
Check with individual sources prior to using or booking any third party services.

Check out http://mdtravelhealth.com prior to going on your trip for the latest complete travel information.
Updated daily for physicians and travelers.

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